The NFL's decision to award its 50th Super Bowl to the San Francisco Bay Area represents a triumph of regional cooperation. Intercity rivalries and cultural clashes between old and new pillars of the economy were set aside for the common good of bringing America's premier sporting event to the 49ers' new Santa Clara stadium in February 2016.

There was something satisfying about the way the Bay Area emerged as the clear front-runner for the game in recent days. Miami's chances all but vanished when the Dolphins failed to get the Florida Legislature to advance a proposal to publicly fund more than $300 million in improvements to a 25-year-old stadium. The team's ownership then refused to foot the bill.

Meanwhile, the construction and largely private financing of the 49ers' stadium continues to move along briskly toward a 2014 opening. The recently announced $220 million naming-rights deal is yet another firm fiscal pillar in the $1.2 billion project.

The 49ers will be showing the nation not only a technological marvel one might expect of this region - solar powered, with all the latest gadgetry - they will be reminding current and prospective NFL cities that the days of taxpayers carrying the bulk of the burden of "keeping their teams competitive" should be retired forever.

Another Bay Area touch is the commitment of an unprecedented dose of philanthropy pledged by Daniel Lurie of Tipping Point, the bid committee chair.

Some San Franciscans may never forgive the 49ers for heading south, but at least the city will enjoy much of the glow and windfall of Super Bowl week. There is no doubt where the parties and big dollars are going to roll.

The Super Bowl and the Bay Area have changed enormously since the last one was played at Stanford Stadium. Super Bowl L will be a perfect opportunity for the league and the region to share and showcase their ever-growing prosperity and sophistication.